Anyone else disagreeing w/ spouse on level of caution...

[Anonymous]

re: coronavirus?

My spouse is taking the attitude (still!) that the whole thing is overblown. I am wanting to severely limit activities outside the house for us and our kids. Seems it would be foolish not to. We are watching the same news reports. This is causing major disagreements and tension in our household.

Anyone dealing with the same thing?

[Anonymous]

My spouse needs to be reminded to wash hands after coming in from the store. He’s a lost cause.

[Anonymous]

Nope. We are two scientists and for once we're on the same page!

[Anonymous]

Are there any podcasters or authors whose opinion he holds in high regard? Maybe see if one of them takes the issue seriously and subtly point him in that direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:re: coronavirus?

My spouse is taking the attitude (still!) that the whole thing is overblown. I am wanting to severely limit activities outside the house for us and our kids. Seems it would be foolish not to. We are watching the same news reports. This is causing major disagreements and tension in our household.

Anyone dealing with the same thing?

Does he know how to read? Do a google search? Western Europe is really suffering, and many places (including in Italy) haven't even hit their peak yet.

Would that convince him?

[Anonymous]

DH and I had very different reactions to this whole thing a week ago. He was very much in the "We're fine. We're not buying more food. Let's go out to eat and go to the mall." camp. He's since taken it more seriously. We're not going out, we stocked the pantry...but he still as to go to work everyday in a very unsanitary environment, so not sure how much those concessions count for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Nope. We are two scientists and for once we're on the same page!

not sure I follow. Are you saying you previously had science-based disagreements?

[Anonymous]

I made fun of my husband when he stocked up three weeks ago.

I will be apologizing.

[Anonymous]

I've always been one to stock up on items throughout the year (I went to college in LA during Katrina) and DH made fun of me so yes he's eating a slice of humble pie now. That being said, we're taking precautions but neither of us are in hunker down mode. I'm seeing a lot of extremes on this board and it sounds tough not to be on the same page. I read somewhere the number of filings for divorce in China skyrocketed - I can see why!

[Anonymous]

Yes and it’s so annoying. He keeps wanting to go to Costco and I’m like “sure if you can stay six feet away from people as is the current recommendation.” I’m treading carefully because I don’t want our marriage to suffer because of this but I just feel so strongly that if we don’t need to go out we shouldn’t.

[Anonymous]

Yes. We agreed on the need to stock up a couple of weeks ago, so I thought we were on the same page. However, he has insisted on continuing to go into work every day (he can work from home) and was going to the gym daily until ours closed yesterday. There was a lot of tension this morning as he was leaving for work, but no out and out arguments yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Nope. We are two scientists and for once we're on the same page!

not sure I follow. Are you saying you previously had science-based disagreements?

DP. I’m guessing this is the first divisive science-based issue most couples encounter, so for a science-y couple this is an easy one.

[Anonymous]

We are enjoying a lot of outdoor time. Alone, but spending 2-3 hours on trails or in the woods every day (not in DC).

[Anonymous]

No. We talked about it before it even came to the US. We got on the same page before even taking any action.

[Anonymous]

Yes, except we are divorced and when the kids are with him I can’t control anything. He recently went to his parents (both work downtown), and his 3 siblings/families were there (2 have recently flown, 2 in their twenties/not social distancing, etc) and he doesn’t see it as an issue. It’s beyond frustrating.